Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said that lifting the restrictions would help bring more revenue to airports and boost India's international reputation as a flight destination.

The ministry said Monday that Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa have expressed interest in flying A380s into India. Only airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore can accommodate the double-decker planes, which can seat up to 850 passengers.

Airbus welcomed the move, which had been pushed for by international carriers aiming for a bigger foothold in a country with more than 1.2 billion people.

"This is good news for Indian airports and the Indian flying public," said Kiran Rao, executive vice president of strategy and marketing for Airbus, in a statement.

Air travel has been growing at annual rates of 10%-20%in India, driven by business travelers and middle-class Indians looking to spend more on vacations.

Last month, the city of Mumbai unveiled a long-delayed $2 billion terminal, hoping to dazzle travelers with art installations and showcasing India's importance as a global destination. The new terminal boosts the airport's annual capacity from 30 million to 40 million passengers.

Indian carriers have struggled, however, under fierce competition and high costs for fuel and spare parts, leading to more than $8 billion in estimated losses over the last five years, with flag carrier Air India suffering the biggest hits.

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